Andrew Bogut has been thought of as a nice player for a couple of years. A big man with touch, but who suffered on a poor team and lacked the necessary components to be part of a winning formula. This year, all that’s changing. Bogut’s points are up significantly (16.2 from 11.7), and he’s averaging a double double. But it’s on the defensive end that Bogut is really making an impact.

BrewHoop clues us in on the fact that according to HoopData.com, Bogut is a league leader in what they term “defensive plays,” which are steals, charges, and blocks combined. Bogut’s long been considered an elite “flopper” known for being able to draw charges, but this season his blocking ability has skyrocketed.

With Luke Ridnour and Brandon Jennings playing at such a high level, and flanked by capable wing defenders, the Bucks have become one of the league leaders in defensive efficiency. More importantly, the Bucks are now the seventh seed in the East, and on a roll after a January slump. If the Bucks continue to improve, Bogut’s going to find himself talked about even more.

I am glad he is coming around, I was happy when we won the lottery that year, with his defense coming around, hes a reason the Bucks are on a win streak, he has been great around the hoop and he does have great passing skills for a big man. I think Skiles coaching is a huge factor in him becoming one of the better PURE Centers in the East Conf. Its quite obvious that his presence is far more important then who people thought the most important Buck was Mr. Redd.

I’m a fan of “The Thunder From Down Under” and I’m really happy that the big fella has been playing at an All Star level. So many years, he has been criticized of being a “bust” but now he has been putting up excellent numbers and on top of that and more importantly his team is winning.
I’m a fan of international basketball and his year with the FIBA World Basketball Championships just around the corner, it will be interesting to see if the “Bogey Man” can lift the Australian basketball team to the top 8 in the standings or possibly a top 4 like what they used to achieve in the mid to late ’90s when they did not have any NBA players on their national team.
GO AUSSIES! AND GO BOGUT!!!